Our Beginning

Phillips Chapel was established in Haw River, North Carolina in 1849. As shared in our history book, which was written by Mrs. Mattie Shore and Mrs. Sarah Davis in 1981, little is known about the early history of Phillips Chapel. We do know that a circuit rider by the name of Phillips established a preaching mission there some years before a church was built in 1849. Although, some older members of the church say that the date of 1849 is wrong and that the church was built much earlier.

• A Bradshaw family in the community mortgaged their home in order to secure funds to build the first church

• The first church was a one-room building about 36x50 feet

• The church founded a school, which existed until about the turn of the century

• In 1902 the church was remodeled and supervised by Mr. W.P. Thompson

  • The rafters were donated by E.C. Davis and timber was cut by his sons

  • The ceiling and walls were hand dressed

  • The pulpit and doors were changed to the opposite end of the church

  • The first pews were handmade and painted white (used until about 1920)

  • The painting was done by Mr. Alson Holmes and Mr. Numan Thompson

  • Money was collected to purchase a new organ and carpet